FC Nantes boss Vahid Halilhodzic hailed his side's going after the win versus ten-man Montpellier in their rearranged Week 18 fixture;

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1 NEWSLETTER Week 20 LIGUE 1 CONFORAMA Week 18 reactions - Halilhodzic: 'Congratulations to my players' FC Nantes boss Vahid Halilhodzic hailed his side's going after the win versus ten-man Montpellier in their rearranged Week 18 fixture; Angers boss Stéphane Moulin found some justice in his side's taking a point against Amiens. Tuesday, January 8, 2019 FC Nantes 2-0 Montpellier Hérault SC Vahid Halilhodzic (FC Nantes coach): "We had a few difficulties. We started well and created two or three opportunities to score, but after a red card, there is often a bit of a blockage. Our opponents played deep and compact and we didn't co-ordinate our movements. But you have to know that for a lot of the lads it was the first match of the year and they lacked rhythm. But then I changed our system and our game became much quicker. We scored two absolutely deserved goals and congratulations to my players on a great win." Michel Der Zakarian (Montpellier HSC coach): "The red card [for Gaëtan Laborde, 19'] really hamstrung us, as he's an important player. We had a pretty good start and after the red card, even though they had the ball and some chances, they didn't really threaten until they scored. We were out of position and when you're a man down, it's complicated. Since the beginning of December, we have only won in Monaco. We need more cutting edge." Amiens SC 0-0 Angers SCO Christophe Pélissier (Amiens SC coach): "I'm ambivalent. There is pride in what the lads achieved; they stepped up tactically and I feel that we had the upper hand on the match. But there is also disappointment and frustration because we couldn't find a winner. But I think we're on the right track, and if we continue to turn in performance like tonight's, we will surely be rewarded." Stéphane Moulin (Angers SCO coach): "It's a somewhat miraculous point we took tonight. That's for all the times we deserved points and didn't get them. Tonight, Amiens would have been deserved winners. We have our 'keeper Ludovic Butelle to thank for some decisive saves. He earned us this point. This was the first time this season we have been so wide of the mark. It was our worst match of the season; we couldn't have played much more poorly." Dijon FCO: Kombouaré named as new coach Antoine Kombouaré has been signed as head coach at Dijon FCO until the end of the season. On Thursday morning, Dijon FCO announced Antoine Kombouaré, 55, as the Ligue 1 Conforama club's new head coach until the end of the season, with an option for a supplementary season should the club beat the drop. Currently in 18th place on the Ligue 1 Conforama table, the club noted that "after studying numerous candidates, DFCO president Olivier Delcourt decided to put his faith in Antoine Kombouaré to help the club achieve its objectives". Kombouaré will kick off his duties on Friday morning. 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 1

2 A former central defender with FC Nantes, SC Toulon and Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 Conforama, Antoine Kombouaré is now set to start his seventh job as head coach after holding the reins at RC Strasbourg Alsace, VAFC, Paris Saint-Germain, Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), RC Lens and EA Guingamp, where he began the campaign before being relieved of his duties 12 weeks into the season, on 6 November, with the club in 20th place. Kombouaré's personal trophy cabinet includes one Coupe de France, with PSG in 2010, and a Domino's Ligue 2 title with Valenciennes in The successor to Olivier Dall'oglio, who was sacked after six and half seasons with the club, will have his first match in charge at home to Montpellier HSC on Sunday. SM Caen-LOSC rescheduled The Ligue 1 Conforama Week 20 match between SM Caen and LOSC will now be played on Friday. In accordance with the wishes of the Prefecture of Calvados, this weekend's match between SM Caen and LOSC - initially scheduled for Saturday, 12 January at 19:00 CET, has been moved forward to Friday, 11 January at 18:00 CET. Nîmes-Angers postponed The Ligue 1 Conforama Week 20 clash has been postponed at the request of local authorities. At the request of the Prefecture of Gard, the Ligue 1 Conforama Week 20 clash between Nîmes Olympique and Angers SCO - originally scheduled for 20:00 CEt on Saturday, January 12 - has been postponed. The LFP's Competitions Commission will set a new date and time for the fixture in due course. 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 2

3 COUPE DE FRANCE Round of 64 reactions - Garcia: 'Unacceptable' Marseille boss Rudi Garcia was full of praise for minnows Andrézieux after they humbled his side 2-0 on Sunday night; PSG's Thomas Tuchel was happy with his stars' attitude and Sainté's Jean-Louis Gasset was as proud as punch. Monday, 7 January 2019 Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille LOSC 1-0 FC Sochaux Montbéliard Christophe Galtier (Lille coach): "We got through, which was the main thing. We worked hard, analysing how Sochaux play. They are struggling in their league but they still have quality. It was our first match back after the holidays and we haven't many days to prepare. We went through the motions a little bit, but we weren't helped by the changes we were forced to make. Players like Soumaré, Koné and Soumaoro were all lacking any rhythm. We scored when we were on top and then we defended intelligently when we didn't play so well, not giving away many chances. We have to be satisfied at going through and we can be happy that some players got a run out. The Coupe de France is the most beautiful trophy of the lot and it is the only one we can win given we know already who the champions will be and we are out of the Coupe de la Ligue." Omar Daf (Sochaux coach): "We knew we were up against a Lille side with players who have great individual quality and that they could decide the game. We had five players out suspended and a very young squad but I am proud of the team. We were solid, but the individual quality of Nicolas Pépé made the difference. We would have liked to go much further in the Coupe de France but Lille were superior to us." Sunday, 6 January 2019 Coupe de France, Round of 64 Andrézieux 2-0 Olympique de Marseille Rudi Garcia (Olympique de Marseille coach): "It's unacceptable. Still, bravo to Andrézieux - a side from the National 2 [D4]. They showed that they are a team who are hungry and who are ready to battle. That's what we missed in spades tonight. We had plenty of shots but when we had real chances, we didn't put them away. We were ineffective at both ends of the pitch and in the cup, you can't get away with that." Pontivy 0-4 Paris Saint-Germain Thomas Tuchel (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "The team played well and we stayed focused throughout the game. We showed the right attitude this evening. It's always difficult to prepare for games like this, because we don't know our opponents well. But we stayed focused on ourselves, and that will help prepare for the games coming up. We gave away possession a little easily at times, but that's normal for a first game back." Olympique Strasbourg 0-6 AS Saint-Etienne Jean-Louis Gasset (AS Saint-Etienne coach): "What a great way to start the year - we scored plenty and conceded none. The forwards scored and I was very happy to see Loïc Perrin score with his head - I've been waiting a year to see that [laughs] and I;I'm very happy for him. There were lots of positives, and that was important in order to start the year well." 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 3

4 Girondins de Bordeaux 0-1 Havre AC Eric Bédouet (Girondins de Bordeaux coach): "We're struggling to score. We need a bit more spontaneity, we have to make things happen - something we haven't been doing well. We're a bit predictable, and that's what bothers me." Toulouse FC 4-1 OGC Nice Alain Casanova (Toulouse FC coach): "Qualifying is a huge positive for us. I really want us to go as far as possible in the Coupe de France and the [players have got the second half of the season off to a great start. There are still lots of things to work on, even though we did conjure up some nice passages of play. I want to see my team on the front foot again, playing proactive football." Patrick Vieira (OGC Nice coach): "It's a pretty heavy scoreline, but over and above the numbers involved, what hurts is that we have been eliminated. It's very disappointing. We're lacking a bit of creativity and someone to convert our chances. We need to bolster the squad." Canet Roussillon F.C. 0-1 AS Monaco Thierry Henry (AS Monaco coach): "It wasn't easy at all; it was a true cup match. It's not always easy to play stylish football in the Coupe de France, especially in the first round. Canet fought hard right to the end, hungry for every ball. We missed three chances to go 2-0 up and we were never the clear. We just scraped by, but we're still in the running and that's the main thing." Stade Rennais FC 2-2 Stade Brestois on pens Julien Stéphan (Stade Rennais FC coach): "That was a spectacular match. Given how we played, it was a shame we had to go to extra time, but I would underline the strength of character my players showed to come back from 2-0 down. We struck before the break, came out swinging in the second half and never let up. Congratulations to Brest's 'keeper [Donovan Léon], who had a huge, huge match. Even the shoot-out was spectacular. Bravo too to Thomas [Koubek, who scored the winning penalty] who kept us on track for our main objective: to still be in the running in four competitions." Stade de Reims 2-0 RC Lens David Guion (Stade de Reims coach): "The main objective was to qualify, as it had been seven years since Reims had reached the round of 32, so we're very satisfied. The second objective was to impose our values, the same ones we had last season/ I'm really happy because we saw a very disciplined but game Stade de Reims side in the first half and a very solid one in the second. We achieved our objective." Saturday, 5 January 2019 Jeunes Bourges Nord 0-2 Olympique Lyonnais Bruno Genesio (Olympique Lyonnais coach): "Mission accomplished! In this kind of match, the most important thing is qualifying and I think we did so in style. We took this Bourges side very seriously and could have scored several in the first half. ['Keeper Anthony] Lopes showed that he is one of the best in Europe with some huge saves that kept us in front. He played a huge role in our win." Red Star FC 0-1 SM Caen Fabien Mercadal (SM Caen coach): "That was the match we expected. It was a closed kind of game but I think we managed it intelligently. We kept a clean sheet, and that's as it should be. We got our ticket for the round of 32, and I know that they're not easy to come by. Some Ligue 1 Conforama clubs were knocked out, but we made it through." Lyon Duchère 3-0 Nîmes Olympique Paul Bernardoni (Nîmes Olympique 'keeper): "We were expecting them to be game; I was expecting to have plenty of work to do. We knew it would be 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 4

5 a tough match on a difficult pitch, with particular danger from set pieces [Nîmes conceded from a free-kick, a corner and a penalty]. We lacked humility at times. We didn't under-estimate them, but it's telling that we won very few challenges. They deserve to have qualified as they played a real cup match. And the 3-0 scoreline smarts." Entente SSG 1-0 Montpellier Hérault SC Michel Der Zakarian (Montpellier HSC coach): "It's a big disappointment. We were sloppy technically and lacked cutting edge, unlike them. They scored with their only big chance. It was a nice goal. We need to regroup, remobilise and stick together as we have two important Ligue 1 Conforama matches [vs Nantes on Tesday and Dijon on Saturday]." Viry-Chatillon 1-0 Angers SCO Pierrick Capelle (Angers SCO forward): "We're turning the page. We knew that, given the state of the pitch, it would be ridiculous tonight. We tried to play some good football, but we couldn't convert our chances. Matches like these are all about confidence and their 'keeper came out on top. That's part of the magic of the Coupe de France." Amiens SC 1-0 Valenciennes FC Christophe Pélissier (Amiens SC coach): "We've been knocked out in the round of 64 seven times, but this time we made it. In the cup, it's important to qualify without going to extra-time. We missed a lot of chances even though we dominated the match. We have started the year with a win but we need to sharpen up. In Ligue 1 Conforama, we won't have as many chances and we can be severely punished." Friday, 4 January 2019 Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes FC Nantes 4-1 Châteauroux Vahid Halilhodzic (FC Nantes coach): "I asked all my players to be ready for the string of matches to come. The lads showed their quality and determination. I underlined the fact that this match could be a banana peel for us, especially as it was the first outing of the year. I put a lot of pressure on my players and told them that slipping up was not an option. I'm happy with the lads and how they carried themselves. It showed me that a I have a lot of players I can count on." Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Grenoble Foot 38 - RC Strasbourg Alsace - postponed until a date TBA Thierry Laurey (RC Strasbourg Alsace coach) on the cold-weather postponement of the match away to Domino's Ligue 2 side Grenoble: "We have a very important match in four days' time [against Lyon in the Coupe de la Ligue] and we really didn't want to pick up any more injuries in a match that would have been a parody of football." 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 5

6 Amiens-OL, PSG-Grenoble/Strasbourg in last 32 The draw for the Coupe de France last 32 was held on Monday, yielding at least three all-ligue 1 Conforama ties, with OL heading to Amiens while PSG face the winner of the postponed clash between Grenoble (L2) and Strasbourg. The draw also gave Dijon FCO a tough trip to face AS Saint-Etienne, while Toulouse FC, who just eliminated fellow Ligue 1 Conforama side OGC Nice 4-1, will now do battle with Stade de Reims. Monaco face the highest-ranked opponents of the rest of the Ligue 1 Conforama clubs, with a home tie against Domino's Ligue 2 leaders FC Metz, while Guingamp travel to another second-tier outfit in the form of AS Nancy Lorraine. Meanwhile LOSC, Rennes, Caen and Nantes all have road games against sides in the National (D3) or lower. PSG will find out whether they will take on Strasbourg or Grenoble after those sides play their postponed round of 64 tie at 19:15 CET on Wednesday, 16 January. The round of 32 ties will be played on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday, 23 January. The full draw FC Sète (N2) - LOSC AS Monaco - FC Metz (L2) Amiens SC - Olympique Lyonnais AS Saint-Etienne - Dijon FCO Toulouse FC - Stade de Reims AS Nancy Lorraine (L2) - EA Guingamp SC Bastia (N3) - Noisy-le-Grand (R1) Saint-Pryvé-Saint-Hilaire (N2) - Stade Rennais FC Andrézieux (N2) - Lyon-Duchère (N) Bergerac (N2) - Orléans (L2) Vitré (N2) - Le Havre (L2) Viry-Châtillon (R1) - SM Caen Paris Saint-Germain - Grenoble (L2) or Strasbourg Entente SSG (N) - FC Nantes Villefranche (N) - Les Herbiers (N2) Marignane-Gignac (N) - Croix (N2) 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 6

7 COUPE DE LA LIGUE BKT Quarter-final reactions - Gourvennec: 'Magic' Guingamp boss Jocelyn Gourvennec was pinching himself after his side put an end to PSG's 44-match win streak in cup competition on Wednesday night; Monaco coach Thierry Henry was full of praise for 'keeper Loïc Badiashile. Wednesday, 9 January 2019 Coupe de la Ligue, quarter-finals Parc des Princes, Paris Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 EA Guingamp Thomas Tuchel (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "We had the chance to kill off the match with a second goal and we didn't do that. And we had already opened the scoring after the first penalty for the opposition and it was already a bit too late. We were very good after their first penalty, but once we scored we took our foot off the gas. We were over-confident. We thought nothing could touch us and it doesn't work like that. Every match is difficult. I say that all the time and tonight we saw that it's true. You have to work hard to deserve to win a match, you have to have the right mentality and we didn't have it tonight. We are missing a few players and tonight is a big lesson for us." Jocelyn Gourvennec (EA Guingamp coach): "You never know what to expect here at the Parc des Princes. I'm still not sure what happened here but we managed to shut them down and frustrate them as the match wore on. It's unusual to have three penalties in a match but they were penalties. Sometimes you have days like this that are a little bit magic. You just have to take it in and enjoy it. It was a great performance, but hard to explain. There are gulfs between us and them, but we showed that anything is possible." Stade Louis II, Monaco AS Monaco 1-1 Stade Rennais FC - AS Monaco win 8-7 on penalties Thierry Henry (AS Monaco coach): "That's exactly how we want to play. We were very active in the first half, and then of course there was the penalty shoot-out. Loïc [Badiashile] was extraordinary and showed that he is our man in the cups. The fans got impatient at times tonight, but we just got on with the job and played our game. What's more, we finally showed a strong reaction to conceding a goal. That was something we weren't able to do before. This time, we got it right." Julien Stéphan (Stade Rennais FC coach): "We lacked rhythm. It was the least dynamic performance in our last six outings. Still, we were ahead at the break and felt we could score a second if we injected a bit more rhythm. Instead, we let Monaco equalise and then they got on top of us in the shoot-out. Now we have to look ahead to Sunday's derby against Nantes. It's going to be a huge match. We'll have to analyse this defeat and turn the page. We're not here to lament our elimination. We're professionals." MATMUT Atlantique, Bordeaux Girondins de Bordeaux 1-0 Havre AC Eric Bedouet (Girondins de Bordeaux coach): "[On Samuel Kalu's goal] It was a light in the darkness. We were hardly in the match in the first half, but things got. Bit better in the second. [Sporting director] Ricardo spoke to the players at half-time, urging them to play with more intensity. Le Havre are a very defensive team and they are tough to move around. They posed us more problems in this match, but we responded with a superb goal. We'll try 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 7

8 to go all the way. The next match is later in January, after a strong of other matches. We'll have to manage that and not neglect the league; that's our priority." Oswald Tanchot (Le Havre coach): "I told the players that, over the two matches we played [in the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la ligue] we posed Bordeaux a lot of problems. We showed a lot of promise and we have a place in the last 32 of the Coupe de France. Tonight, we weren't far off. We had chances but didn't convert them. We made a lot of little errors that lead to their goal. But overall, the feeling is positive." Tuesday, 8 January 2019 Groupama Stadium, Lyon Olympique Lyonnais 1-2 RC Strasbourg Alsace Bruno Genesio (Olympique Lyonnais coach): "It's a huge disappointment. We can't be starting matches with such a lack of rhythm. We lacked aggression and engagement, not to mention cutting edge. In this kind of match, it's often the side that comes with more drive and desire that wins through to the next round, and that's where we failed. If all we could do was hit the posts, then perhaps that's all we deserved." Thierry Laurey (RC Strasbourg Alsace coach): "My hat is off to my team's fighting spirit. We may not have been ultra-strong technically, but we made up for that by showing courage and solidarity. To beat OL, you have to take risks! And it worked out well; we got the chances to hit them on the counter that we were looking for. We frustrated Lyon as much as possible. We enjoyed some good fortune, but it's not can undeserved win. I think we did what we needed to in defence. One mustn't forget that this was our first match back after the winter break." Semi-final draw! The draw for the Coupe de la Ligue BKT semi-finals was held on Thursday evening. There are four Ligue 1 Conforama clubs ready to duke it out in the final four on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 January. Coupe de la Ligue semi-final draw: EA Guingamp - AS Monaco RC Strasbourg Alsace - Girondins de Bordeaux 01/11/2019 Ligue de Football Professionnel / Ligue1.com 8